With 2:58 remaining in the fourth quarter, St. Francis Prep had a chance to take control of the game.

Instead, Chaminade's defense delivered a play that changed everything.

St. Francis Prep quarterback Frank Quartarolo dropped back under pressure from a Chaminade blitz and sent the ball floating toward the middle of the field, where linebacker Luke Urich was waiting. The Flyers' senior starter came down with the interception, returning the pick to the Terriers' 17-yard line to set up Chaminade's offensive attack. 

The Flyers quickly cashed in via a 12-yard touchdown run from senior running back Anthony Trapani with 1:47 remaining. Kellan Stapleton's extra point extended Chaminade's new lead to 25-18, which would soon become the game's final score.

"We knew we had to make a play, and once Urich got that interception, we had a chance to finish the game," said junior safety Shaye Sykes. "Everyone stayed focused, and we were able to capitalize on the opportunity."

After entering the second half down 18-9, Chaminade spent much of the third and fourth quarters fighting to overcome a deficit. Their efforts paid off with 4:01 remaining in the fourth, when Trapani found the end zone to tie the game at 18.

The comeback came one week after Chaminade suffered a 28-3 loss against Monsignor Farrell in their first CHSFL game of the season, one which left the Flyers in need of a bounce back against St. Francis Prep to even their league record.

"Farrell was a very tough opponent," admitted associate head coach Thomas Elder '10. "They were disciplined and physical, and unfortunately, they were able to take advantage of a few lapses on both sides of the ball."

"Against St. Francis Prep, we knew we needed to play complementary football," continued Elder. "With [quarterback Sean] Carnevale out due to injury, we had to establish the run. Defensively, we needed to stop their heavy run game."

The Crimson and Gold found their first offensive spark on a drive starting from their own seven-yard line. After working the football to the 34, the Flyers called a jet sweep for Trapani. The North Bellmore senior broke through a tackle, cut across the field, and sprinted 66 yards for a touchdown.

"Scoring first is always something we emphasize," Elder said. "It helps settle some of the natural tension that comes with game day and allows everyone to get into the flow of the game."

A missed extra point from Stapleton left the score at 6-0. 

St. Francis Prep answered with a drive that started on its own 41. Quartarolo opened with an outside pitch to Roderick Fordham Jr. for nine yards before another run from Fordham Jr. moved the Terriers across midfield. Quartarolo then faked a handoff, rolled out wide, and threw deep to receiver Salvatore Vakili, who was brought down near the edge of the red zone.

Rafael Espinal followed with a 12-yard run up the middle before another outside pitch to Fordham Jr. resulted in a Terriers touchdown. The PAT gave St. Francis Prep the lead, 7-6.

After Stapleton connected on a long 45-yard field goal to put Chaminade ahead 9-7, Prep responded with a field goal of its own to take back the lead, 10-9. 

With 2:18 remaining in the second quarter, Chaminade looked to pull ahead again on a drive that started at its own 35-yard line. However, quarterback Gabriel Seabrooks's intended pass to Trapani was intercepted by Romayne Phillips, who returned the pick six nearly 40 yards for a touchdown.

A successful two-point conversion gave St. Francis Prep a two-score lead at halftime, 18-9.

On Prep's second play of the third quarter, Quartarolo rolled out left from his own 20 and threw a pass 20 yards downfield, but the ball was tipped into the hands of Sykes, who came down with the interception for Chaminade.

"Shaye is a young man we are incredibly proud of," said Elder of the safety from Bay Shore. "He is a two-year starter for our defense and has developed into an outstanding teammate and leader."

Following a holding penalty that took a 39-yard Trapani touchdown off the board, the Flyers were forced to punt.

Chaminade's defense responded once again, as a three-and-out forced the Terriers to line up for a punt from the back of their own end zone. The ensuing snap sailed over the punter's head and out the back of the end zone for a safety, cutting the St. Francis Prep's lead to 18-11.

The game then settled into a defensive battle, as both teams recorded interceptions - including Sykes' second of the game - but neither could find the end zone as more than 15 scoreless minutes melted off the clock.

With 4:16 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Terriers once again sent out their special teams unit to attempt a punt in the shadow of their own goalpost. A high snap was barely secured by the punter as several Chaminade players rushed to block the kick. The ball shot into the air - straight into the air - as the Flyers took back possession at the St. Francis Prep 16-yard line.

"Those types of special teams plays can create a huge momentum swing," explained Elder. "That was certainly one of those moments."

On the first play of the ensuing drive, Trapani took a handoff, cut outside to the left and ran into the end zone to cut the Flyers' deficit to one; then, Stapleton's extra point tied the game at 18.

The momentum now squarely on Chaminade's side, Quartarolo dropped back on Prep's next possession and threw the pass that Urich intercepted, returning possession to the Flyers at the St. Francis Prep 17-yard line before Trapani's 12-yard scamper completed the comeback.

The Crimson and Gold defense held the lead, keeping the Terriers scoreless over the final 1:47 to put the finishing touches on the Flyers' second win of the season.

"We trusted each other and knew we just needed one more stop," said Sykes of the final defensive possession. "Once we got the lead, we knew we had to stay focused and finish the game."